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If you plan on spending this February half term in Yorkshire then you’ll be spoilt for choice as a cavalcade of events ride into the county.

The largest event of its kind in the UK, the JORVIK Viking Festival is a city-wide celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage and between 12th and 18th February, there will be a week-long commemoration of a seminal moment in British history, the arrival and conquest of England by the Great Viking Army in AD 866.

The festival has an exciting programme of events that includes walks, talks, tours and dramatic combat performances promising a Thor-some day out for all the family.

If it’s the more roar-some you’re after then South Yorkshire has you covered.

At the Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife and Falconry centre visitors are used to seeing a menagerie of marvellous creatures and this half term the extinct will be coming back to life as dinosaurs invade South Yorkshire.

As part of the normal admission price, visitors will be able to meet an animatronic T-Rex, and an adorable baby Triceratops. You can follow the dinosaur trail, take a free tractor trailer ride (watch out for escaped dinosaurs though), take part in dinosaur crafts and games, and get involved in a full day of animal encounters.

Whilst we are on the topic of prehistoric creatures, let Aardman and Scarborough Castle transport you back to the dawn of time and tell you the story of plucky caveman Dug, along with sidekick Hognob, united his tribe against the mighty Bronze Age.

Explore the castle in search of Dug, Hognob and the rest of the Early Man tribe and follow the clues and complete the quest to uncover centuries of history in one day.

With official figures this week stating that children spend a little more than an hour outside a day, Thorp Perrow, the 100acre arboretum wants to buck the trend this half term offering a fantastic family day out to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

Families are invited to take ‘A Walk in the Woods’ which includes some fun outdoor activities, craft projects and a way to encourage nature into the garden at home. As a further incentive, over the half term period, kids eat for free in the Tearoom, making a family day out even more affordable.

Just six weeks after the Christmas break and half term strikes and Treetop Nets in Ripon is hoping to offer a haven for parents wanting to entertain (and tire out) their energetic kids.

There’s no persuasion needed for this half term excursion. Treetop Nets takes childrens’ love of climbing trees and amps it up with over 2000 square metres of walkways, tunnels, slides and giant trampolines cushioned by giant netting pitched high above the ground.

Tumble down to Eureka! This half term to celebrate 250 years since the creation of the circus.

The National Children’s museum will be celebrating Circus250 this February half term with two weeks of thrills and spills. They’ll be playing host to professional circus performers every day, showcasing a mix of shows, demos and interactive circus skills to mark this anniversary year in spectacular fashion.

The National Railway Museum in York is a place of sophisticated engineering and is now playing host to another feat of ingenious inventing that has already taken us beyond our own world and into the vast reaches of space, the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module.

This is the very same module that transported revered British astronaut Tim Peake back to earth after his spell aboard the International Space Station and has now landed in York until March 8th.

Thanks to the Science Museum Group’s partnership with Samsung, this half term, not only can you come face-to-face with Tim’s spacecraft but you can step into his shoes and experience everything that he saw in a virtual reality experience, powered by the latest Samsung Gear VR, that is narrated by the astronaut himself; for a nominal cost.

It’s time for penguin fun at The Deep this February half term. Follow the puzzling penguin trail and solve the clues as you make your way around the attraction.

Make your own penguin ID bracelet, just like their very own penguins' wear and hear all about what the special bracelet codes mean. Find out more about what these loveable residents get up in daily talks, dive shows, touch pool sessions, feeds and more.

This February Half Term at the National Coal Mining Museum learn about the history of coal mining and get hands-on with their activities with a mining twist! Plus it's all FREE!

There is an abundance of activities over half term including their ‘Exploring Light and Dark’ family friendly art activities linked to acclaimed photographer Ian Beesley’s Big Big Camera photo exhibition. There is also a chance to enjoy an interactive exploration of Hope Pit with the volunteer team where you will discover the people, the places and the expertise that was required to support the underground miners.

Mud, mud, glorious mud, there’s nothing quite like it for…keeping the kids entertained. Families are being encouraged to pull on their wellies, grab the waterproofs and enjoy a week of mud and machines at RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Every day, come and jump in our giant muddy puddle and take part in the Mud & Machines Trail around the garden. Have your photo taken with a giant digger from 11am–3pm, Monday to Friday as Harlow Carr’s garden team demonstrate how they use the garden’s heavy machinery.

This February half term hear stories of highwaymen and discover surprising details about crime and punishment in the Georgian and Regency periods.

At 11am, 1pm & 3pm you are dared to go and meet Thomas Turlis, the executioner, and his gallows! If that wasn't quite grisly enough, head inside the visitor centre at 12pm or 2pm to see what exactly was used to punish those who were deserving…